Potential for inhalable vaccines for Tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia, with new approach

Researchers to creating inhalable vaccines using nanoparticles that shows promise for targeting lung-specific diseases, such as influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Particle's surface charge plays a key role in eliciting immune responses in the lung. When the particles delivered through the lung, particles with a positive surface charge were shown to induce antibody responses both locally in the lung and systemically in the body. In contrast, negatively charged particles of the same composition led to weaker, and in some cases undetectable, immune responses, suggesting that particle charge is an important consideration for pulmonary vaccination.